Terrifed please read - Cancer: Colon Message Board

Seshat · 09-28-2003, 04:54 AM

First post on the boards,
When I was 18 (Im now 25) I got rectal bleeding for the first time, I went to the doctors who said it wasnt anything to worry about, over the past 7 years I have had it on and off, mostly months apart. For the past 5 years I have had problems with my BM, loose and soft, containing mucus sometimes and blood. Sometimes the only thing that comes out is mucus (yucky I know) right now I am getting blood quite a bit, mostly with the stool, sometimes little black flecks which I dont know are blood, but mostly bright red and looking the same consistency as the stool. I dont have abdomen pain, but I have suffered from heartburn for 2 years plus and slight nausea.
The last 10 weeks I have also had a tickly cough so now I have convinced myself that I had polop (sp) 7 years ago, which has now gone to full blown colon cancer and has now spread to the lungs which has made me terrified to go to the doctors, I just kinda sit and wait to see what happens next because I know once its in the lungs its all over.
I havent lost weight, I eat like a horse, Im not tired or feel ill but I know you dont have to be to have CC, lung cancer, so Ive convinced myself its what I have.
My grandfather died of CC at the age of 56 and so that makes me even more convinced I have it and its too late now to do anything about it.
Could the symptoms Im having be anything other than CC because right now its all I can think of.

lady68 · 09-28-2003, 05:30 AM

Hello seshat,

I'm 35 years old and about 15 years ago I started to have the same problem as you. I would get blood in my stool but mostly mucus, sometimes white and sometimes tinged with blood. I was so sure and scared that it was colon cancer that I did not consult a doctor for 7 months. All that time I was panicked and couldn't get it out of my mind that it was something real bad.

I finally decided it was time to see a doctor cause the fear was ruining my life.
I went through a colonoscopy and what they found was that I have ulcerative colitis, by your symptoms I would say that there's a strong posibility that you may have it too.

I suggest you take an appointment with your gastroenterologist and don't cancel it this time, even if the bleeding stops just go anyway.
I'm sure you will get reassured and when it happens next time you won't worry so much about it.

By the way the black flecks on your stool could possibly be dried old blood.

I wish you luck and keep me posted.

Hugs,

Daniela

[This message has been edited by lady68 (edited 09-28-2003).]

smiley2u · 09-28-2003, 07:22 AM

Please go to the doctor and have a colonoscopy. It will ease your mind. Then you do what you have to do. I did, found cancer, and now I am "cured." It may not be cancer at all, so many things it can be. Don't think that if you have cancer and it spread to the lungs that it is all over. It's not, so many new drugs and treatments, this is not a death sentence anymore. The most important thing is to get to that doctor. You need to ease your mind. We always seem to make it worse than it is. Keep us updated.